Abstract:

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in industrial manufacture, which is mainly applied for plastic utility production. People gain exposure to BPA via diet, breathing and skin contact in daily life. BPA has endocrine disrupting function, and is named as endocrine disrupting chemical. BPA may simulate estrogen function, which may influence pancreas islet B cells and estrogen-sensitive tissues such as adipocytes, hepatocytes and central nervous system, affect metabolism of glucose and fat, cause insulin resistance, influence differentiation of adipocytes and fat accumulation, and promote the development and progress of diabetes. Epidemiological studies have revealed that excessive exposure to BPA may promote the  development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The correlation of BPA with development and progress of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes is reviewed in this paper.

Key words: bisphenol A, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, endocrine disrupting chemicals